Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-14
STORY OF MATT CARPENTER.
How q Constituent of His Overshot the
Mark Ordering q Dinner.
fSparial Corresr0ndpnce

Mark Ordering Dinner.
special Correspondence
NEW YORK, Oct 27.-Thc Int Matt
II. Carpenter was very fond of good
stories and told them exccllently. He
took great delight in relating those that
touched upon the experiences Of the
nnsophisticated, especially persons of this
class who went to Washington intent
upon seeing the town or doing
On one occasion a friend and constitu-
Wisconsin went to pass Il portion of the
winter in Washington. In some of their
business transactions it had come in Mr.
Carpenters way to do the man service
which resulted in a decided financial ad-
vantage to him.
When he arrived in Washington he lost
no time in paying his respects to the sen
ator, extending his most hearty thanks for
the assistance rendered, and Offering any
fee that Mr.. Carpenter might name
With his Characteristic generosity the
senator declined any compensation, in
sisting that the act was merely friendly
courtesy and one for which he would ac-
cept no consideration.
The man urged the point, declaring that
he would never be satisfied until he had
in some manner and to some extent can
celed his obligation, and finally, when
everything else had been refused, eX-
claimed, half in vexaton:
well, | suppose that at least you will
not refuse to dine with me-
"Ccrtainly not, said the senator. ~
will give you the very first evening that
I am not engaged"
A few nights later they met at Wclck-
er's with couple of the senator's friends
When they were seated at table the
stranger, after looking over the bill of
fare, passed it across to Mr.. Carpenter
with the remark:
manage this. Ordering dinners is little
out of my line, and ! think you can fix
the thing up in STYLE
Mir. Carpenter, i'll relating the incident,
said: Il took the bill Of fare, as he re-
| quested, and ordered dinner that seemed
amply sufficient for a party of four per-
sons When l had finished, handed it
back to him, saying: There, ! guess that
will do
1.-THE man looked indignant
well, really, senator he said, you
must excuse me, but didn't invite you
here to give you starvation diet. Intend
to have dinner, not little snack.
think that will bear adding to little
!
! senator, "that was ordering with u view
t. fair degree Of economy, for he was q
man of rather small means rs [ very well
! knew, and he showed some ANNOYANCE at
what he fancied to be n regard for his cir
Cumstanccs told him to go ahead, and
lie did. Tho waiter brought in dishes
until our table was so full that it would
hold no more. Then a side table was drawn
! up and that also was filed, and
several dishes remained on the sitleboard
untouched. All of the rest of the party
were veterans aud saw clearly what the
man was doing. We therefore peremp-
! torily insisted that he make no further
! order for wine, feeling satisfied that lie
! would have quito enough Of 1t in the other
! portion of the dinner How we struggled
| to taste through that meal | could never
! tell You. SCmo Of the covers were not
! cen removed, and the host himself with
his robust western appetite, at last began
to show signs OF Weakening For four
long hours we sat there, and three more
quietly amused guests it would be hard
to find At last we gave it up and our
host called for the check. My order had
been for dinner that would cost about
| &l2 to SIS. Even though we had declined
more wine we waited with some curiosity
to know what the amount of the check
would be. There was perccptiNle pallor
| about the mans mouth when he glanced
down the long column and at the footing
| below. | saw from his manner and cX-
! preston that he had not money enough
with him to pay it, SO ! gave my card to
the superintendent, who had looked in
several times during the meal, and who
evidently comprehendcd the situation and
WAS enjoying the Joke. The man was
completely overwhelmed, but made DIES
pcrate effort to appear cheerful lie called
at my office next day, paid the bill and
remarked that lie guessed he knew more
about lumber than he did about dining a
la carte. The bill was 9Gl.75."
EDWARD WILLS DLAKELEY.